Slat type grille with interlocked slats



June 8, 1954 M. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,680,501

SLAT TYPE GRILLE WITH INTERLOCKED SLATS Filed March 25, 1949 '2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

. portion of the grille Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED PATENT QFFICE.

3,680,501 SLAT TYPE GRILLE WITH INTERLOCKED SLATS Mar on orgen Cunn m,

Wwnswk t, ll; 1

Application March 25, 1919., Serial N 0- 83,459

l0 Claims- My invention relates to a ri e er the t pe som posed ofintersecting slats which are transversely notched and interfitted at theintersections so that each extends across or substantially aeross thewidth of the other, and has refelell e ll??? particularly to facilitiesfor interlockin the in.- tersecting slats. Grilles of this type are usedeggs tensively in artificial lighting to diffuse the light and shieldthe source of illumination a manner .to avoid objectionable glare.

It has been customary, heretofcre, to iurnish uch grilles in assembledform uch. rille construe tion with the slats permanently securedtogether has been objectionable, however, for a number of reasons.

advance production 7 v sizes for which there is a regulardemand can bernade for stock and considerable storage space is quired for he ri es. wen as em ed. More over, they cannot cleaning or repairing.

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide an improvedslatted grille for lighting t es or for her u e-s e to con tru t the r lso t t m y b readny and uickly sembled and disassembled; to providesimple and convenient interlocking facilities whereby the iorm and i thejob; to permit disassembly of the grille for cleaning or for repairs;and in general, be provide a slatted grille which is coonom-ical tcmanufacture, simple to assemble and Fig. 1 is a top plan view of agrille in accordance with my invention;

Fi 2 is a persp ctive view or a fragmentary of F g- 1 d howi g acile tieby which it may be suspended;

3 is a f a men ary View of .a mug s t sl'lQWihg the form of slotarrangeme t, for m lacki g w th a ball Fie- 41s a plan View of portionsof intersecting .h etee be r di y di ss mbled for grille se in h teeterterm. in ieh th i tsrlochine lements are .in ertee e r es:

Fig 5. i else view at t e sla s c F 4 sq: J' lsted to e in e l cke porton;

Fla 6 i e psrsnee ive iew st he end of a erll e slat mounted inamarginal frarne member;

e- 7 s e r rsheetive view sho in twq int nse s slats with modified rm flocking le ment;

Fir 8 a f a m ta y view Qi a l ad ted for use with the glisceshapedlocking element of Fig. 7

Fla is a eer h el e n w 9 sc rer-sh ne l t abou t9 9. ssembl d the. sh wng a m sh fied rm 9? ce.

he s ats h s 19 is a plea view Qt the slats h n n la a af e assembly;

R eii is a plan vie at meeihsd t rm 9? gri l con t u t .1 hewi e he ange of ass mbl ee He 1.3 s? p an view he s at Q the ll fin l a emb ed f rR f rr n to erewlhe a d Pa cula y t i s 1 thro h he rille ass mbly sh wnere n is emreset 9t ets Q para lel slats t slat f one set hsiee h ea e bt ene um ral 15 and he slat .9; the th et b t e reierenee n meral l Theslats l5 and [6 are elilge each xnade of tri stee s hre lele at 1 val wih slots l seeks ast .eeeeeiine eter rti ns si t e shit stock fre ly thre n and herm the stri s o slats O h et to he ea ily en a ed at th s 1 to s ith th has er slats hf he eths set of t ether set .e slats so slatshe s the of the other p d rarsl elr l th hl Width s 7. of e slat 9; theeh I s l h t thus assess d the int rsec in sla s and I6 form agrillewi'th square openings there;

kins element integ a th r- 's Q 3 through bounded by upright as shown inFig. 2.

For interlocking the two sets of slats l5 and Hi in the thus enmeshedposition, each slat l5 and I6 is provided at the inner end of each sloti! with a circular enlargement [8 located midway between the lateraledges of the slat so that the circular enlargements l8 of the slats itare at the same elevation as those of the other slats it when the slatsl5 and it are properly enmeshed, and balls 19 are provided which areengaged in the openings ll of both the slats l5 and Hi at theintersections thereof.

These balls l9 fit quite closely within the circular enlargements l8 soas to hold the slats i5 and I6 against unmeshing movement, that is,movement in the direction of their width, and the balls themselves areheld securely in place by the quarter turn arrangement therearound ofthe semi-circular halves of the enlargements 18.

Generally it is not necessary to provide balls l9 in all of theintersecting openings 18 as a few properly distributed throughout thearea of the grille are sufficient, only three being shown, for

portions of the slats example, in the fragmentary portion of the grilleillustrated in Fig. 2. In such case, it is preferable to omit thecircular enlargements it at the inner ends of the slots H where aninterlocking ball 19 is not employed and merely continue the slots 61sufiiciently, as indicatedat Na in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the slats l5and 16 will mesh fully together, the slot extensions Ha being preferableat the places where the balls l9 are omitted, as the unoccupied openings18 would permit passage of light therethrough and this is undesirable.

To insert these balls 19 in the intersecting openings l8, one set of theenmeshed slats l5 and I6 is merely swung relatively to the other set ofslats to a somewhat collapsed condition substantially as shown in Fig.4, in which position the balls l9 may be readily inserted, whereupon therestoring of the enmeshed slats l5 and (8 to the normal right angularrelation shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 locks the balls IS in the openings isso that the slats l5 and 16 are inseparably locked to gether. Todisassemble the slats [5 from the slats I6, it is merely necessary tocollapse the grille. to the position shown in Fig. 4 whereupon the balls[9 may be removed.

For suspending a grille of the above construction, hangers 26 may beprovided at appropriate places, for example, one near each corner of thegrille, each hanger being formed at the lower end with a hook 2| whichengages intersecting slats l5 and it through the openings 18 at theparticular intersection.

These grilles are generally supported in a marginal frame, such asindicated at 22 in Fig. l, which holds the slats of one set at rightangles to the slats of the other set and this frame may consist ofchannel-shaped bars 23, such as shown in Fig. 5, joined together at thegrille corners, or it may consist of frame members of any other suitabledesign, such as L-shaped and the like. Each channel bar 23 is providedin its central upright web 24 with a series of circular ball openings 25of the same size and the same distance apart as the openings N3 of theslats I5 and i6, and each opening 25 has a slot 26 extending verticallytherethrough from the bottom flange 2'! to the top flange 28 of thechannel member and continued outwardly in the top flange 23 as indicatedat 29 in Fig. 6 to permit insertion of an end portion of a slat IE or 16downwardly in the slot 26.

The frame 22 is of such size that ends of all of the slats l5 and I6engage in slots 25 of the marginal frame and with an opening 18 in eachof said ends disposed in ball interlocking relation with the respectiveopening 25 of the marginal frame 22, and the frame 22 is of suchconstruction that when the slats l5 and it are collapsed to the relativeangular relation, such as shown in Fig. 4, to receive balls is in theball receiving openings i8 thereof the slats i5 and Iii are at the sametime likewise angularly disposed with respect to the surrounding membersof the frame 22 to receive balls 19 in the openings 18 which intersectthe openings 25 of the frame.

Thus, when the grille is collapsed to receive balls l9 in intersectingpairs of openings l8, iii of the slats l5 and 15 to interlock the slats,balls l9 may at the same time be inserted in the intersecting pairs ofopenings i8, 25, and when the grille is thereafter extended to theexpanded form of Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the slats ends are interlocked withthe frame.

To permit collapse of the frame 22 to conform to the collapsed form ofthe grille in the operation of inserting or removing the various balls,the frame members (channel irons of Fig. 6, for example) may be hingedtogether at the corners of the frame, or if preferred, the frame membersmay be disconnectable at the frame corners for collapsing and detachablysecurable together in right angular relation in the expanded form of thegrille.

Obviously also, it is not necessary for all of the slats i5 and it toengage or be interlocked at their ends with the frame 22. They may beinterlocked only at selected places around the frame, in which eventplain slots H with extensions Fla. and plain slots 28 withoutenlargements 25 are employed at the others of said places, or, ifdesired, only selected slats may be extended sufficiently to engage theframe 22.

Moreover, it is not essential that a frame 22 be employed which extendsentirely around the grille. Frame members (such as shown in Fig. 6, forexample) may be employed at the opposite ends or at the opposite sidesonly of the grille and the ends of the slats H5 or of the slats 15, asthe case may be, interlocked therewith.

The locking elements for interlocking the meshed slats i5 and it may beof shapes other than the ball shape of Figs. 2, l, 5 and 6. For example,circular discs may be employed as shown at 30 in Fig. 7.

In such case, the slots I! of the slats l5 and I6, instead ofterminating in a rounded enlargement it as in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, have across slot 31! at the inner ends thereof midway between the lateraledges of the slat, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, and of suitable size andshape to receive the discs 30. Thus, the combined slots l1 and 31produce a T-shaped slot, which has the advantage that the portions 32 atopposite sides of the slot 11 are springy and permit greater collapse ofthe assembled grille to the Fig. 4 position for insertion and removal ofthe discs 30. Moreover, the discs 30 may be punched from the slats i5and 16 as indicated at 33 in Fig. 8, if desired.

As an alternative construction, the locking element, instead of being aseparate part as in the case of the ball 18 and disc 30, may be aprojection on one or both sides of the slats or some of them. The slatsl5 and 15 may be provided with slots H at their intersection, as shownin Fig. 9, the same as in the Fig. 2 construction and one of these slotsI! has a circular enlargetions, the slats of each set beingsubstantially ment H3 at the inner end but with slits 34 extendp rpenicul r to h l t f h other set nd laterally from the plane of the slot.The slot 5 terlocked with one another in the enmeshed ll in the otherslat 15 of Fig. 9 terminates in a' p rp ndicul r r lati n againstseparation in h hemispherical hump 36 pressed laterally from thedirection of the width of the slats, said means slat at one side asshown in Figs. 9 and 10. comprising an enlargement of the inner end ofIn assembling a grill of this type, the respeceach slot of each slat ateach place of inter tive slats l5 and it are meshed together until 10looking thereof, and a separate key at each place the humps as interferewith further meshing, f int rl kin engaged in h l r m n of in thiscollapsed condition the two sets of slats tWo sets of slats and d d ysab are forced to the full meshing position, after from both ofosaidenlargements when one set of which they are expanded to the normalposislats is shifted obliquely to the other set or slats, tion at rightangles to one another as shown said key'having enlargement definingportions 111 Fig 10 of the meshed togethei intersecting slats ar- Inthis final meshing of the slats l5 and i6 of ranged circumferentiallyaround the key at sub Figs. 9 and 10, the portion 35, of the slat I 6,which stantially equal circumferentially spaced inter slats I5 and itare fully enmeshed, this portion the place of intersection of the slatswhen the 35 springs back to the normal position in the slats of one setare perpendicular to the slats plane of the slat 6. of the other set,said enlargement defining por In this Figs. 9 and 10 construction all ofthe tions being relatively movable circumferentially circular openingsIt may be in one set of the around the key to release thekey by movementthe other set of slats or they may alternate in tively to the other setof slats.

the slats of both sets. Also, the bulges 36 may .2. A grille composed oftwo intersecting sets be spaced apart with a considerable number of Oflaterally spaced parallel slats which are slotted plain slotstherebetween and the slots with cir and meshed together edgewise at theinterseccular openings l8 slitted at the sides as at 34 tions, and meansat at least some of the intermay be likewise spaced apart so long as thebulge 35 sectio s y Which t WO Sets Of s ats re de 33 slots and thecircular opening it slots mesh tachably interlocked with one another inthe the two sets of slats pising a circular enlargement at the inner endA modification of this Figs. 9 and 10 construcof each slot of each slatat the intersect on theree tion is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 wherein theslats of, and a ball engaged in the circular enlargeinations 3'! and 38,each of which has an out- 3. A grille composed of two intersecting setsof Wa d y eXtehding u e 9 o t t e i a laterally spaced parallel slatswhich are slotted 5 and meshed together edgewise at theintersecintersection where the two sets of slats are to tions, and meansat at least some of the intersecbe interlocked. The other slats,indicated at l6 tions by which the two sets of slats are detachin Figs.11 and 12, are of the same construction ably interlocked with oneanother in the en slats of Figs. 9 and 10. prising a cross slot at theinner end of each slot Disas mbly of the rill s utilizin humped of eachslat at the intersection thereof, and a disc lockin el m n is mpli h y win the engaged in said cross slots of both slats.

respective sets of slats to the somewhat collapsed 4.. A grille composedof t intersecting t of Position Shown in and pu he slats laterallyspaced parallel slats which are slotted apart. and meshed togetheredgewise at the intersec- Grilles of the character contemplated in mtions, and means at at least some of the intersecs invention may be madeof louvers or slats of any m by hi h the two sets of slats are deachsuitable material, metallic, plastic, or otherwise. ably interlockedwith one another in ma em Likewisethe balls and the discs 39 may bemeshed relation against separation in the direct made of various typesof materials. For some men f the Width f the slats, said means 603%purposes, a pleasing ornamental or decorative prising a lateral ff et frm a S191; f One of efiect can be achieved by using Clear colored theintersecting slats and a bulge from the side plastic or glass balls 19or discs 38 which will f the other intersecting 1 and engaged in saiddiifuse or refract the rays from the light source. off et While I haveshown and described my inven- 5, A grille composed of two intersectingsets tion in a preferred ferm, I m aware that of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted 11s changes and modifications y be adeand meshed together edgewise at the intersectherein without departingfrom the spirit of the tions, and having at each place of intersectioninvention, the scope of which is to be determined thereof with the slatsof the other set a slot. which by the appended claims. is open at oneend and extends inwardly from What is claimed is: one lateral edge oftheslat in the direction of and 1. A grille composed of two intersectingsets p rt Way ro h Wi th of he la toward the of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted Opp lateral g o t es at, and the slatsof and meshed together edgewise at the interseceach set being engageablei a g g bl from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of the otherset by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect to theslats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots of theslats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersections bywhich the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with one anotherin the enmeshed relation against separation in the direction of thewidth of the slats, said means comprising an enlargement at the innerend of the slot of one of the intersecting slats and bulges at theopposite sides of the other slat at the inner end of the slot andengaged in the said enlargement.

6. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at theintersections, the slats of each set being substantially at right anglesto the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersectionthereof with the slats of the other set a slot which is open at one endand extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the directionof and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateraledge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in anddisengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats oftheother set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respectto the slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots ofthe slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersectionsby which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with oneanother in the enmeshed right angle relation against separation in thedirection of the width of the slats, said means comprising an individuallocking member at each such intersection having a peripheral surfacewhich is spaced from and substantially concentric with and extends atleast a part way around the axis of intersection, and at least one ofthe slats at such intersection having means which is movable relativelyto the other slat arcuately along said peripheral surface of the lookingmember in adirection circularly around said axis to interlock the slatsagainst separation.

'7. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at theintersections, the slats of each set being substantially perpendicularto the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersectionthereof with the slats at the other set a slot which is open at one endand extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the directionof and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateraledge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in anddisengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of theother set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect tothe slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots ofthe slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersectionsby which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with oneanother in the enmeshed perpendicular relation against separation in thedirection of the width of the slats, said means comprising an individuallocking member at each such intersection having a peripheral surfacespaced outwardly from and extending substantially concentrically aroundthe axis of intersection, and at least one of the slats at suchintersection having means which is movable peripherally around thelocking member along said peripheral surface thereof to and from theother slat in a direction circularly around the axis of intersection tointerlock the slats against separation.

8. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at theintersections, the slats of each set being substantially perpendicularto the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersectionthereof with the slats of the other set a slot which is open at one endand extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the directionof and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateraledge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in anddisengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of theother set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect tothe slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots ofthe slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersectionsby which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with oneanother in the enmeshed perpendicular relation against separation in thedirection of the width of the slats, said means comprising an individuallocking member at each such intersection having an arcuate surface whichis spaced outwardly from and substantially concentric with the axis ofintersection, and at least one of the slats having the slot thereof atthe intersection provided with a lateral enlargement which is movablerelatively to the other slat peripherally along the arcuate surface ofthe locking member in a direction circularly around said axis tocooperate with the looking member in interlocking the slats againstseparation.

9. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at theintersections, the slats of each set being substantially perpendicularto the slats of the other set and having at each place of intersectionthereof with the slats of the other set a slot which is open at one endand extends inwardly from one lateral edge of the slat in the directionof and part way across the width of the slat toward the opposite lateraledge of the slat, and the slats of each set being engageable in anddisengageable from meshed intersecting relation with the slats of theother set by relative movement of the slats of one set with respect tothe slats of the other set in a direction lengthwise of said slots ofthe slats of both sets, and means at at least some of the intersectionsby which the two sets of slats are detachably interlocked with oneanother in the enmeshed perpendicular relation against separation in thedirection of the width of the slats, said means comprising a separatelocking member at each such intersection which is individually removabletherefrom and has an arcuate surface which is spaced outwardly from andsubstantially concentric with the axis of intersection, and at least oneof, the slats at such intersection having the slot thereof at theintersection provided at each side of the axis of intersection with alateral enlargement which is movable relatively to the other slatperipherally along the arcuate surface of the locking member in adirection circularly around said axis to cooperate with the lockingmember in interlocking the slats against separation.

10. A grille composed of two intersecting sets of laterally spacedparallel slats which are slotted and meshed together edgewise at theintersections, and having at each place of intersection thereof with theslats of the other set a slot which 2,680,501 9 g is open at one end andextends inwardly from one to one another, said locking member having alateral edge of the slat in the direction of and peripheral surfacespaced outwardly from and of one set with respect to the slats of theother set other intersecting portion in a direction circuin a directionlengthwise of said slots of the slats larly around the axis ofintersection to interlock of both sets, and means at at least some ofthe 10 the s ats a a Separationintersections by which the two sets ofslats are References Cited in the file of this patent direction of thewidth of the slats, and a mar- UNITED STATES PATENTS of the slats aredetachably interlocked, all of Sam 5??? ggi 5 detachably interlockedslats being releasable upon v n 7 1,197,506 Doyen Sept. 5, 1916 adustment of one set of slats obliquely to the L 1,896,957 Hutcheson Feb.7, 1933 other set of slats and b0 the frame, said slats 2 490 586 EmbreeDec 6 1949 having end portions which intersect portions of 20 u saidmarginal frame and some of said intersect- FOREIGN PATENTS ing portionshaving matching openings at the intersection and a locking member seatedin said N umber Country Date openings interlocking said intersectingportions 97119 Sweden 1939

